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How To Be A Scientist (College & Careers)
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- We will learn what scientists do and how to become one.
- There are many kinds of scientists like biologists, chemists and physicists.
- All scientists have something in common: they use evidence to support their ideas.
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Discussion Questions
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Before VideoWhy do scientists conduct experiments? ANSWER
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Experiments are used to gather data. That data is used as evidence to support an idea. The more evidence that supports an idea, the stronger that idea is.
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Sometimes, but most scientists work in a team. Scientific discoveries often involved the work of many people. Scientists frequently share data with others, especially with their labmates who work next to them.
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Discovering something can be very exciting and it could potentially help millions of people. People also become scientists because they love to solve problems, they are naturally curious, and they want to understand how the world works.
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Anyone can be a scientist! About 50 years ago, most scientists were men, but today that has changed dramatically. Today you can find men and women of all backgrounds achieving great things in science, even winning Nobel prizes!
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No, scientists must be able to communicate verbally and in writing to share their work with others, so they will need to be well rounded in things like English and Math. In college, about half the classes you take will be general subjects and the other half in your specialization of choice.
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It takes 4 years to get a college degree. To lead a research team, you will need a doctorate degree like a PhD, which can take another 4-6 years. Most of that time is spent in a lab doing research, not in a classroom.
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After VideoWhat is biochemistry? ANSWER
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Biochemistry is the study of the chemical process that makes living things work. Inside all of us are cells. In those cells, millions of chemical reactions are happening that make us work.
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No, you can actually be a scientist without a college degree at all. However, most people that work in science research have some sort of advanced certification beyond high school. Those who lead research programs usually have a doctorate degree (PhD).
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Yes, all scientists use the practices of science to generate data, which they use to support their ideas. All of them also collect evidence to support their ideas. The more evidence that supports an idea, the stronger it is.
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Marine biology is the study of living things in the ocean, their interactions with the environment, and their behaviors.
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Plasma is the fourth state of matter. It forms when you heat a gas causing the atoms to be ripped apart. The sun is a giant ball of plasma, lightning is a plasma and so is a flame.
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Scientists explore the natural world to understand how it works. Engineers use their knowledge of science to solve problems.
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Vocabulary
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Scientist
DEFINE
A person who is studying or has expert knowledge of one or more of the natural or physical sciences.
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Doctorate
DEFINE
A doctorate is the highest degree a person can obtain in their field of study. Dr. Jeff has a doctorate in biochemistry.
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College major
DEFINE
A subject that students can specialize in while working on a college degree.
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Natural world
DEFINE
All of the things existing in nature that are not made by humans.
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Physics
DEFINE
A branch of science related to understanding the properties of matter and energy.
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Engineering
DEFINE
Using science, math, and creativity to solve problems.
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Marine Biology
DEFINE
Biology is the branch of science that focuses on the study of living organisms. Marine biology focuses on studying living things in the ocean.
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Chemistry
DEFINE
The branch of science that deals with the identification of substances that make up matter, their properties, and the ways they interact.
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Scientist
DEFINE
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Reading Material
Download as PDF Download PDF View as Separate PageWhat is a scientist? How do you become one?Scientists help us understand the natural world using observation and experimentation. They study everything from planets and asteroids to coral reefs in the ocean. Becoming a scientist involves going to college and learning more about one part of the natural world. For example, microbiologists focus on studying tiny things like bacteria and astronomers study the universe.
To better understand how to be a scientist…
What is a scientist? How do you become one?. Scientists help us understand the natural world using observation and experimentation. They study everything from planets and asteroids to coral reefs in the ocean. Becoming a scientist involves going to college and learning more about one part of the natural world. For example, microbiologists focus on studying tiny things like bacteria and astronomers study the universe. To better understand how to be a scientist…LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!
Marine Biology: Studying Life in the Ocean
Biology is the study of living things, and marine biology is the study of living things in the ocean. That includes studying sharks, coral reefs, plankton, and more. Some marine biologists study just one animal and others study an entire ecosystem to understand how everything interacts.
Candice, pictured here, studies an invasive seagrass in the Caribbean, she wants to understand how this seagrass which is originally from the Indian ocean, will change the ecosystem. Since seagrass is at the bottom of the food chain, it gets energy from the sun and then many animals depend on seagrass for food, like turtles.
Changing the seagrass in an area could change the balance of the ecosystem in a major way. Candice studies these changes to make sure the environment is protected.
Marine Biology: Studying Life in the Ocean Biology is the study of living things, and marine biology is the study of living things in the ocean. That includes studying sharks, coral reefs, plankton, and more. Some marine biologists study just one animal and others study an entire ecosystem to understand how everything interacts. Candice, pictured here, studies an invasive seagrass in the Caribbean, she wants to understand how this seagrass which is originally from the Indian ocean, will change the ecosystem. Since seagrass is at the bottom of the food chain, it gets energy from the sun and then many animals depend on seagrass for food, like turtles. Changing the seagrass in an area could change the balance of the ecosystem in a major way. Candice studies these changes to make sure the environment is protected.Physics: Studying Matter, Motion and Energy
Physics is the study of matter, energy, and motion. Gurleen, pictured here, studies plasma, which is the 4th state of matter. If you heat a solid, it melts and becomes a liquid, if you heat a liquid it will turn into a gas. If you strongly heat a gas, the atoms rip apart and it forms a plasma. We can find plasma in lightning, flames and the sun is a giant ball of plasma.
If we can better understand how the sun works we can use that process to produce energy here on Earth. In her research, Gurleen makes plasma in a huge device and then collects data about it. She measures things like a magnetic field and an electric field produced by the plasma. Her research will help us understand more about plasma so we can eventually harness its potential as an energy source. Plasma is also needed to make electronics so understanding it can also help us make better computers and phones.
Physics: Studying Matter, Motion and Energy Physics is the study of matter, energy, and motion. Gurleen, pictured here, studies plasma, which is the 4th state of matter. If you heat a solid, it melts and becomes a liquid, if you heat a liquid it will turn into a gas. If you strongly heat a gas, the atoms rip apart and it forms a plasma. We can find plasma in lightning, flames and the sun is a giant ball of plasma. If we can better understand how the sun works we can use that process to produce energy here on Earth. In her research, Gurleen makes plasma in a huge device and then collects data about it. She measures things like a magnetic field and an electric field produced by the plasma. Her research will help us understand more about plasma so we can eventually harness its potential as an energy source. Plasma is also needed to make electronics so understanding it can also help us make better computers and phones.Chemistry: Studying Atoms & Molecules
Chemistry is the study of atoms and molecules. Chemists study how molecules react and how they can be used in ways that help people such as making medicines. It is important to remember that everything around us is a chemical, from all the food you eat, to the dye in your clothing to the atoms that make up the screen of a phone.
Rachel, pictured here, is working on her PhD in chemistry. She studies ways of making new molecules for treating Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is when you get old and some of your brain cells die so you start to forget memories. Rachel is working on making new molecules that could be used to treat the disease.
She uses the periodic table and does chemical reactions every day. Her discoveries could help people feel better and maybe one day she will even discover the cure.
Chemistry: Studying Atoms & Molecules Chemistry is the study of atoms and molecules. Chemists study how molecules react and how they can be used in ways that help people such as making medicines. It is important to remember that everything around us is a chemical, from all the food you eat, to the dye in your clothing to the atoms that make up the screen of a phone. Rachel, pictured here, is working on her PhD in chemistry. She studies ways of making new molecules for treating Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is when you get old and some of your brain cells die so you start to forget memories. Rachel is working on making new molecules that could be used to treat the disease. She uses the periodic table and does chemical reactions every day. Her discoveries could help people feel better and maybe one day she will even discover the cure.Materials Science: Studying New Materials
Material science is a field of science that makes new materials. That includes everything from touch screens, to the lens of a camera, to the materials inside batteries. Francis, pictured here, works to make better energy storage devices called "supercapacitors."
Supercapacitors are kind of like batteries but better! They can be charged and discharged in only one second, while it takes hours for a battery to do that. Francis is making new materials that would go inside supercapacitors to make them less expensive and work even better.
Francis grew up in Nigeria and went to elementary school there. He remembers studying with candles because the energy supply there was very unstable. He was inspired by this experience to work on energy storage solutions so that he can help future generations not have to study with candles like he did.
Materials Science: Studying New Materials Material science is a field of science that makes new materials. That includes everything from touch screens, to the lens of a camera, to the materials inside batteries. Francis, pictured here, works to make better energy storage devices called "supercapacitors." Supercapacitors are kind of like batteries but better! They can be charged and discharged in only one second, while it takes hours for a battery to do that. Francis is making new materials that would go inside supercapacitors to make them less expensive and work even better. Francis grew up in Nigeria and went to elementary school there. He remembers studying with candles because the energy supply there was very unstable. He was inspired by this experience to work on energy storage solutions so that he can help future generations not have to study with candles like he did.Engineering: Solving Problems Using Science
Engineering is using math, science, and creativity to solve problems. Engineers can work to make buildings, bridges, engines, rockets, electronics, and more. The difference between a scientist and an engineer is that scientists figure out how things work and then engineers apply that knowledge to solve problems.
Peter, the engineering student pictured here, creates robotic exoskeletons, which is a device someone wears over their body and it helps them move. This lets people get more physical therapy and practice moving more than they are able to now. It can even help them re-learn how to move after an accident.
By developing this technology, he can help millions of people with disabilities. If you are interested in engineering, check out our lesson all about the topic called "Engineering Design Process."
Engineering: Solving Problems Using Science Engineering is using math, science, and creativity to solve problems. Engineers can work to make buildings, bridges, engines, rockets, electronics, and more. The difference between a scientist and an engineer is that scientists figure out how things work and then engineers apply that knowledge to solve problems. Peter, the engineering student pictured here, creates robotic exoskeletons, which is a device someone wears over their body and it helps them move. This lets people get more physical therapy and practice moving more than they are able to now. It can even help them re-learn how to move after an accident. By developing this technology, he can help millions of people with disabilities. If you are interested in engineering, check out our lesson all about the topic called "Engineering Design Process." -
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